Go to Related Reading
About this book

Enki and Ninhursag

A Paradise Myth

The place is pure. The land Dilmun is pure.⁠ The land Dilmun is clean. The land Dilmun is bright. He who had lain by himself in Dilmun— The place where Enki had lain with his wife— That place is clean, that place is bright. In Dilmun the raven utters no cries. The ittidu-bird utters not the cry of the ittidu-bird. The lion kills not.⁠ The wolf snatches not the lamb. Unknown is the kid-devouring wild dog. Unknown is the grain-devouring creature. The sick-eyed says not “I am sick-eyed.” The sick-headed says not “I am sick-headed.” Its old woman says not “I am an old woman.” Its old man says not “I am an old man.” Unbathed is the maid. No sparkling water is poured in the city. He who crosses the river utters no lament. The wailing priest walks not round about him. The singer utters no wail. By the side of the city he utters no lament. Ninsikilla says to her father Enki: “The city you have given, the city you have given, Dilmun, the city you have given, Has no water.” Father Enki answers Ninsikilla, his daughter: “Let Utu stand in heaven. From the breast of Nanna, From the mouth from which the waters of the earth flow,⁠ Bring sweet water from the earth. Let him bring the water up into your great canals. Let him make your city drink from the waters of abundance. Let Dilmun drink from the waters of abundance. Let your well of bitter water become a well of sweet water. Let your furrowed fields and farms bear grain. Let your city become the house of the riverbank.” Now Utu stood in heaven. From the breast of Nanna, From the mouth from which the waters of the earth flow, He brought sweet water from the earth. He brought the water up into her great canals. He made her city drink from the waters of abundance. He made Dilmun drink from the waters of abundance. Her well of bitter water became a well of sweet water. Her furrowed fields and farms bore grain. Her city became the house of the riverbank. Dilmun became the house of the riverbank. Enki, before Nintu, the mother of the land, Caused his phallus to water the dikes. Caused his phallus to submerge the reeds. He swore by the life of Anu. He poured his semen into the womb of Ninhursag. She took the semen into the womb. One day was her one month. Two days were her two months. Three days were her three months. Four days were her four months. Five days were her five months. Six days were her six months. Seven days were her seven months. Eight days were her eight months. Nine days were her nine months, the months of womanhood. Nintu, the mother of the land, Gave birth to Ninmu. Enki in the marshland looked about. He said to his messenger Isimud: “Shall I not kiss the young one, the fair?” He embraced her, he kissed her. He poured the semen into the womb. She took the semen into the womb. One day was her one month. Two days were her two months. Nine days were her nine months, the months of womanhood. She gave birth to Ninkurra. Enki in the marshland looked about. He said to his messenger Isimud: “Shall I not kiss the young one, the fair?” He embraced her, he kissed her. He poured the semen into the womb. She took the semen into the womb. Nine days were her nine months, the months of womanhood. She gave birth to Uttu, the fair lady. Ninsikilla says to Uttu: “Instruction I offer you. Take my instruction. A word I speak to you. Take my word.” In the house may he take hold of my leash. May Enki there take hold of my leash. A second time he filled with water. He filled the dikes with water. He filled the ditches with water. He filled the uncultivated places with water. The gardener rejoiced. Enki says to the gardener: “Bring me the cucumbers. Bring me the apples. Bring me the grapes.” He brought him the cucumbers. He brought him the apples. He brought him the grapes. He heaped them on his lap. Enki embraced Uttu. He kissed her. He poured the semen into the womb. She took the semen into the womb. From her thighs sprouted plants: The tree-plant sprouted. The honey-plant sprouted. The roadweed-plant sprouted. The thorn sprouted. The caper-plant sprouted. The cassia-plant sprouted. Enki looked about in the marshland. He said to his messenger Isimud: “Of the plants, their fate—what is this?” Isimud answered him: “My king, the tree-plant.” He cut it down, he ate it. “My king, the honey-plant.” He plucked it, he ate it. “My king, the roadweed-plant.” He cut it down, he ate it. “My king, the thorn.” He cut it down, he ate it. “My king, the caper-plant.” He plucked it, he ate it. “My king, the cassia-plant.” He plucked it, he ate it. Ninhursag cursed Enki: “Until he dies I will not look upon him with the eye of life.” Enki sat in the dust. The Anunnaki seized Ninhursag’s garments. They decreed the fate. Ninhursag seated Enki by her vulva. “My brother, what hurts you?” “My jaw hurts me.” “Nintulla I have caused to be born for you.” “My tooth hurts me.” “Ninsutu I have caused to be born for you.” “My mouth hurts me.” “Ninkasi I have caused to be born for you.” “My arm hurts me.” “Nazi I have caused to be born for you.” “My rib hurts me.” “Ninti I have caused to be born for you.” For the little ones I have caused to be born: Let Abu be the king of the plants. Let Nintulla be the lord of Magan. Let Ninsutu marry Ninazu. Let Ninkasi be she who satisfies desire. Let Nazi marry Nindara. Let Azimua marry Ningishzida. Let Ninti be the queen of the months. Let Enshag be the lord of Dilmun. O Father Enki, be praised.

Texts in conversation

Compare Enki and Ninhursag and Ezekiel 47:1

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · Hebrew Bible

Share:

Summary

Mesopotamian tradition places the world tree on a divine mountain at the center of the world, fed by springs that water a paradise like Dilmun. Ezekiel echoes that tradition when a river flows from the Jerusalem temple, feeding fruit trees on its banks.

Passages

Enki and Ninhursag

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · A Paradise Myth
“Let Utu stand in heaven. From the breast of Nanna, From the mouth from which the waters of the earth flow, Bring sweet water from the earth. Let him bring the water up into your great canals. Let him make your city drink from the waters of abundance. Let Dilmun drink from the waters of abundance. Let your well of bitter water become a well of sweet water. Let your furrowed fields and farms bear grain. Let your city become the house of the riverbank.” Now Utu stood in heaven. From the breast of Nanna, From the mouth from which the waters of the earth flow,
1900 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Enki and Ninhursag

Ezekiel 47:1

Hebrew Bible
1 Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. 2 He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side. 3 When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep. 4 Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep. 5 Again he measured 1,750 feet, and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I had returned, I noticed a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides. 8 He said to me, “These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the rift valley; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh. 9 Every living creature that swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh, and everything will live where the river flows. 10 Fishermen will stand beside it; from En Gedi to En Eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea. 11 But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty. 12 On both sides of the river’s banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Ezekiel

References

... The divine garden is often the source of life-giving waters that refresh the earth. The land of Dilmun, the most celebrated example of the garden of the gods in Mesopotamian literature, is described in the Sumerian myth called Enki and Ninhursag. The land is watered by the "waters of abundance" from the earth which gush forth to fertilize the land (lines 55-64; ANET, 38). In Ugaritic myth, the high god El dwells "at the sources of the (two) rivers, in the midst of the (double) deep" (CTA 3.5.14-15, etc.). Ezekiel 47:1-12, Zechariah 14:1-21, and Joel 4:16-18 all picture life-giving water rushing forth from the sanctuary on Mt. Zion. In the Ezekiel text this water fertilizes even the area of the Dead Sea. Every creature that comes to the stream lives, and its fish are prolific (verses 9-10). Ezekiel is shown two great trees (or forests) growing on its banks (verse 7) ...
David Noel (ed.) Freedman, The Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 906–907.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Tags

Your feedback

Enki and Ninhursag and Ezekiel 47:1

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library